Longford Ireland

This village has the unique distinction of having won both the National Tidy Towns Competition and the Nationwide CARE Award in the same year (1980). Newtowncashel village is specially featured for its stone walls built with artistry and the well kept Garda Station, Church, National School and Hertiage Centre. A number of fine outdoor sculptures designed by bog-wood sculptor Michael Casey that create a unique atomosphere in the village is prominent in its recent highlights. The restored Abbey of Saints Island to the left, and Barley Harbour on the right add up to the excellence of this village. Providing a pleasant amenity for walking, boating, fishing and picnic along the Lough Ree shoreline there situates Elfeet Bay nearby.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Abbey, Barley Harbour, Church, Elfeet Bay, Garda Station, Hertiage Centre, National School, Newtowncashel, Saints Island. Comments: 1

Near the village of Abbeylara 4km south-west of Granard and close to the shore of Lough Kinale you will see the remains of a 13th century Cistercian abbey founded by an Anglo-Norman, Richard Tuite. Edward Bruce captured Granard and plundered this abbey. People believe that the semicircular earthwork north of the village is the site of the original church founded by Saint Patrick about 460. Parts of the ancient defensive earthwork known as the black Pig’s Dyke extends from the shore of Lough Kinale, north-east of Abbeylara to the north-westward direction towards the shore of Lough Gowna. Remains of two stone circles are still preserved in the parish of Abbeylara. There are also the surviving traces of what seem to be megalithic burials. There is no doubt about the antiquity of these stone circles which are import archaelogical remains of the Bronze Age period of human history. They stand as witnesses to those who recognised the sun as the centre of the universe, the source of all life.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Abbeylara, black Pig's Dyke, Bronze Age, Cistercian, Granard, Lough Gowna, Lough Kinale, Saint Patrick. Comments: None

Abbeyshrules location is to the east of Ballymahon in a picturesque valley of the River Inny. A Cistercian Abbey (founded in 1150) was one of the earliest in the country after the success of the first foundation at Mellifont in County Louth. The Abbey was founded by the O’Farrells and was later closed by Queen Elizabeth I in the time of the Tudor suppression of the monasteries. The lands were handed over to Robert Dillon, Earl of Roscommon. The graveyard close by contains part of the only high cross in County Longford. The Royal Canal (from the Shannon to Dublin) passes through Abbeyshrule. You can see also the Whitworth aquaduct built in 1817 to carry the Royal Canal over the River Inny. The place Abbeyshrule is also associated with the Goldsmith Summer School. The only airfield in the midlands is located in Abbeyshrule with its 575 metre tarmac runway. Its yearly festival is a craze for flying enthusiasts inland and abroad. Flying lessons also are available here throughout the year.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Abbey, Abbeyshrules, Ballymahon, Cistercian Abbey, County Longford, County Louth, Earl of Roscommon, Goldsmith Summer School, Mellifont, O'Farrell's, Queen Elizabeth, River Inny, Robert Dillon, Royal Canal. Comments: None

Ardagh is a very attractive Estate Village lying to the south-east of Longford Town. There is a Diocese in this name in which the greater part of the county is situated. It is believed that Saint Patrick founded a church here in the fifth century and installed Saint Mel as the bishop of Ardagh Diocese. The ancient ruins of Saint Mel’s Cathedral are found near the present Church of Ireland and Saint Mel himself is said to be buried within the walls. Ardagh was largely rebuilt by Lady Fetherston in the 1860’s. The clock and houses bearing Swiss design are unique in Ireland. This village has featured regularly in the forefront of the National Tidy Towns Awards. Its The distinctive architecture of Ardagh as a planned estate has led to its designation as a Heritage Village. Lady Fetherston’s ancestral home was Ardagh House, presently Saint Brigid’s Training Centre run by the Sisters of Mercy. It is worth seeing the Goldsmith and Ardagh Hertiage Centre. Liam de Paor, the noted archaeologist, have largely discovered and excavated archaeological remains from the Ardagh region.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Ardagh, Ardagh Diocese, Ardagh Hertiage Centre, Cathedral, Estate Village, Ireland, Lady Fetherston, Liam de Paor, Longford Town, Saint Brigid's Training Centre, Saint Mel, Saint Patrick. Comments: None

Edgeworthstown/(Mostrim), located on the N4, is a successful centre. It is very much associated with the celebrated family of Edgeworth, who first settled here in 1583. The story of the Edgeworths is as entertaining as that of the “Arabian Nights”. Among the eminent family members were Richard Lovell Edgeworth, inventor and surveyor, “The ingenious Mr. Edgeworth”, Desmond Clarke has entitled him in his fine biography. Of his twenty four children, Maria the novelist is best known for her work “Castle Rackrent”. Edgeworthstown House turned to be the meeting place of the cultivated Edgeworth circle which included the Pakenhams, Earls of Longford and the Lefroys, Chief Justices of Ireland. Maria was a friend of Sir Walter Scott, and their friendship has influenced his “Waverly” a lot. To quote Sir Walter in his preface to the work, you see him writing “I feel that something might be attempted for my own country of the same kind as that which Miss Edgeworth so fortunately achieved for Ireland”, a proof for the fore told influence. The Abbe Edgeworth who attended Louis XVI on the scaffold during the French revolution later escaped to Russia to tell the tale is a member of this family. Preserved excellently by the Sisters of Mercy, the Edgeworthstown House is functioning at present as a nursing home. The Edgeworth family vault, in which Richard Lovell and Maria are interred, is in the churchyard of Saint John’s. Isola Wilde, sister of the great Oscar Wilde is buried there too. A new visitor Centre is being developed here to facilitate the interpretation on the many renowned persons and historical events associated with the area.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Abbe Edgeworth, Arabian Nights, Castle Rackrent, Desmond Clarke, Edgeworthstown, Ireland, Isola Wilde, Lefroys, Longford, Pakenhams, Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Sir Walter Scott, Waverly. Comments: None

Granard was home to Kitty Kiernan. She being a girlfriend of Michael Collins, he was a frequent visitor at the Granard area. The relationship of Kitty Kiernan and Michael Collins has been recreated in the recently released film “Michael Collins”. The great famine known as “Black 47″ had its devastating effects on Granard. A large number of people died in the workhouse, presently the site of the Secondary School in Barrack Street. Many of these unfortunate people were burried in a mass grave near Carra Church (also known as “Bully’s Acre”). A plaque has been recently errected here in their memory. On 5th September in 1798 a fierce battle took place in Granard town. A number of insurgents attacked the local forces. The Gortawillian Lane witnessed the main fight. But the insurgents were defeated and most of them were executed and burried near the base of the Motte. Village Mullinalaghta near Lough Gowna situates to the north of Granard. Another sight is the Derrycasson wood on the shore of the lake providing a scenic view from the car park at Dring. This area very suitable for fishing, water activities and nature walks.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: , Barrack Street, Carra Church, Dring, Gortawillian Lane, Granard, Great Famine, Kitty Kiernan, Lough Gowna, Michael Collins, Motte, Mullinalaghta. Comments: None

Ballymahon Town is precisely situated on the River Inny near the heart of the Goldsmith country. Mahon, King of Thomond, defeated Fergal, son of Ruarc, King of Breifne and Connacht, near Ballymahon in 960. This town has a fine broad main street, and holds many associations with Oliver Goldsmith. The Ballymahon area is believed to have influenced Goldsmith and inspired him for his future works. This place is also the centre of John Keegan “Leo” Casey country. The River Inny and its surroundings are prominent in the poet’s work.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Ballymahon, Ballymahon Town, Breifne, Connacht, Fergal, Goldsmith, Mahon, River Inny, Ruarc, Thomond. Comments: None

Some 3km towards the north-west of Village Kenagh on the Ballymahon/ Longford road we come across the ruins of Abbeyderg, a 13th century Agustinian Friary. This is in a partially restored state today. There is also a well chronicled architectural gem in Kenagh restored recently. This is the pigeon house or the Dovecote at Mosstown Estate. Nothing of the Mosstown House is left over today. Olive Sharkey, a historian and author has recorded and sketched this for the modern society. She describes it as reminiscent of Scottish Baronial Dovecotes in parts of Fife and Lothian. The interior of the building is really impressive, with its redbrick boxes along the walls which were once home to hundreds of fat pigeons are almost entirely intact. The lower floor of the building was used as an ice-house just like that in Lough Key Forest Park near Boyle. The Clock Tower, erected in 1878 in memory of the King Harman family who were popular landlords of the area, remains still. The lime tree avenue that forms the entrance to Mosstown Estate is still a delightful sight on a crisp morning. Today you find only a shadow of its former glory. Another landmark is the Royal Canal passing by the village.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Abbeyderg, Agustinian Friary, Ballymahon, Boyle, Fife, Keenagh, Kenagh, Longford road, Lothian, Lough Key Forest Park, Mosstown Estate, Royal Canal, Scottish Baronial Dovecotes, The Clock Tower, Village Kenagh. Comments: None

Situated on the river Shannon at the Northern entrance to Lough Ree, Lanesboro is in a crucial position. In the days gone Lanesborough was known by the Irish name Beal Atha Liag. Beal Atha Liag meant “Mouth of the Ford” in English terms. This town is named after the family Lane that owned large tracts of land in the vicinity. The river divides Lanesborough from Ballyleague which is located in Co. Roscommon. The first bridge across the river was made from wattles a type of acacia found in found in Australia. A stone bridge was built in 1706 using the stones taken from Geoffrey Meares Norman Castle which stood where the car park is situated at present. The existing bridge was built in 1847 and was updated in 1970. Lanesborough has blossomed into a thriving little town today with many facilities for visitors and the locals. This place has long been recognised as one of the most reputed angling centres in the country. The Cloontuskert Abbey founded by Saints Brendan and Faithleach about AD520 is located here.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Ballyleague, Cloontuskert Abbey, Co. Roscommon, Faithleach, Lanesboro, Lanesborough, Lough Ree, Mouth of the Ford, Norman Castle, Saints Brendan, Shannon. Comments: None